About the Program

CBC Syndey The Ph.D. program in Planning, Design and the Built Environment is designed as an interdisciplinary, three‐year post‐masters degree program. In most cases students will enter the program with a master’s degree in one of the design disciplines of architecture, landscape architecture, planning,construction science or real estate development. Students with advanced preparation may take slightly less than three years. Students from other disciplines including engineering, business or the social sciences may be required to take prerequisite coursework as the core courses require some previous coursework experience.

The curriculum is divided into five content areas:

core courses,

concentration courses,

elective courses,

comprehensive examination, and

Dissertation research.

Students will select a field area from the traditional fields of architecture, landscape architecture, planning, construction science or real estate development to build disciplinary as well as interdisciplinary foundations. Concentrations might be drawn from areas such as:

Built Environment + Health

Restoration, Sustainability + Land Ecology

Regional/Community Development + Design

Architectural Design, Technology + Construction Processes

Core Courses—The core consists of 29‐35 hours of coursework. Those hours will include advanced theory/history, advanced methods courses generally taken outside the college, a readings course within a primary field area, a contemporary issues seminar, courses in research design and teaching technique, a colloquium and workshop. The core provides a foundation with some flexibility to tailor curriculum to individual needs within primary fields of study as well as a forum to address issues of the built environment in an interdisciplinary setting.

Concentration Courses—Concentration courses may be taken within or outside the college. These courses add both breadth and depth in the student’s area of concentration. Students develop an individualized course of study to reflect their individual focus and career objectives. Coursework must be approved by the student’s faculty advisor and committee members.

Electives—These courses add additional breadth and depth to the program. Students may add to their concentration coursework, selecting diverse offerings to complement concentration or developing a minor with nine hours in a second concentration.

Degree Plan and Comprehensive Exam—Students will be assigned a program advisor on entering the program. A program evaluation will be conducted and a dissertation advisor and committee will be selected at the end of the first full year of study. A curriculum plan for the remainder of the degree program will be developed at that time. Comprehensive and oral examinations will be administered following the completion of the second full year in the program. Dissertation credit cannot be taken until comprehensive exams are scheduled.

Dissertation Research—Students will develop a dissertation in their area of concentration. A minimum of 24 hours in dissertation research will be taken.